Attilio pusterla



No. 753,311. ,PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904.

A. I PUSTER-LA. PLEASURE WATERWAY.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 9, 1903.

NO MODEL.

TM: NDRRIS PETERS no.v ncrragjruu, WASHINGTOR, n. a

UNITED STATES Patented March 1, 1904.

ATTILIO PUSTERLA, or NEw'YoRK, N. Y.

PLEASU IRE-WATERWAY- SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 753,311, dated March 1, 1904.

Application filed June 9,1903. $eria1No.160,721. (No modal.)

To a, whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ATTILIO PUSTERLA, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of New York, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pleasure-Waterways; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to waterways, and more particularly to water carousels, and has for its object a simple structure and operating mechanism hereinafter to be particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a cross-section, partly in elevation. plan, and Fig. 3 is a perspective, showing one of the boats.

The structure comprises an artificial lake,

consisting of a circular basin 5, made of cement, concrete, or other suitable material, having a front platform 22, and at thecenter of the basin is mounted a stirring-wheel 6, carrying a bevel-gear 7 driven by pinion 8 of an electric or other motor 9, said motor also having a pinion 10 gearing with one, 11, on a centrifugal pump 12. This pump draws water from the basin 5 to supply a decorative fountain, cascade, or similar device 13, located above the housing or casing 14 of the operating machinery above mentioned. This housing or casing is supported on posts 15.

Concentric with the outer wall of the basin is a partition-wall 16, extending nearly around the basin. This partition-wall may extend entirely to the bottom of the basin or may extend only below the surface, as the dimensions of the structure require or admit. At one end of this structure is a gate 17, hinged at 18 and operated by the handle 19, said gate fitting close to the wall of the basin when open or, if desired, may fit into a suitable recess in the side of the basin constructed to accommodate it. The free end of the gate abuts against the stop 20 on theend of the par- Fig. 2 is a tition-wall 16, and if it is so desired any suitable catch or spring-lock may be used to hold it in any position.

When the structure is of small diameter, it is preferably, though not absolutely necessary, 5 5 that the partition-wall 16 extend to the bottom of the basin 5, thereby maintaining a dead-water space 21 between the partition-wall and the side of the basin. When the structure is relatively large in diameter, this partition-wall need not extend entirely to the bottom of the basin.

The operation is as follows: The electric or other motor 9 drives the pinion 8, which in turn drives the bevel-gear 7, secured to the shaft of the stirring-wheel 6. This sets the water in motion and gives theentire body of water a circular movement or rotation, excepting, ofcourse, that portion of the water in the dead space 21. This will carry boats floating on the surface of the water also in a circular direction, the speed of said boats being greater near the center than at the circumference, owing to the drag of the comparatively large body of water being stirred. When it is desirable for passengers to leave the structure, the gate 17 is opened, and the boats ride into the dead-water space 21, the boats after entering being still propelled by reason of movingwater entering through the o gate. The gate is allowed to remain open until the boats reach the landing or platform 22 at the front of the structure, when it is then closed. Here the boats are held by attendants, or if the water be entirely dead then 8 5 an attendant pulls the boats to the landing.

The boats are provided, as shown in Fig. 3, with side rollers 24% to prevent too great friction against the sides of the basin or of the partition 16 and have pivoted to each 'side a 9 paddle 25, having two blades 26, constructed in such a manner that when the handle is pulled toward the passenger the blades move forward and close together, while when the handle is moved outward or from the passenger the 9 5 blades open and have a propelling action on the boat. These paddles enable passengers to guide the boats in the basin and according to their position to and from the center increase and decrease their speed, thereby permitting I00 two or more boats to race during their course around the basin. y

The entire structure is surrounded with scenic effects, and the entrance to orthe exit from the dead-water space, or both, may be constructed to represent tunnels, cai'ons, or other scenery, as the owner may select.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a substantially cirv cular body of water, of means to circularly move or rotate the body of water and boats carried by the water, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a substantially circular body of water,of means to circularly move or rotate the body of water anda deadwater space, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a substantially circular body of water, of means to circularly move or rotate the body of water, a dead-water space, means to connect the dead-Water space with the main moving body of water and boats carried by the water, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a substantially circular body of water, of means to circularly move or rotate the body of water, a body of substantially dead water in the basin connected at one end to the main body of water and means at the other end to admit moving water to the body of dead water, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a substantially circular basin and a body of water therein, of means to circularly move or rotate the body of water, an arcuate partition concentric with the basin to inclose substantially dead water 

